The End of Summer

Funny story: One afternoon Elena asked if she could exercise using one of my DVDs. She even changed into her version of workout clothes. She spent 17 solid minutes copying Denise Austin's every move (to the best of her ability). It was impressive and adorable.
When Dan came home, she told him that she had exercised. "Aw, you worked out with Mommy today?"
I was then forced to admit that, no, Mom didn't work out, only the 3 year old did.
We had our last beach trip of the summer. I'm so glad Dan was able to come with us. We had a great time and were able to avoid all the tourists on Labor Day. I guess I am technically a tourist now, since I have to drive 5 hours to get there. It sure was a gorgeous day. We got to see dolphins several times, and Dan and my dad actually had a couple come super close while they were out in the water.

Granddad, E, and Dan: How beautiful is this walkway to the beach? It's on 80th street.

Aunt BB and Kevin
I love the beach and I love that the kids do as well.

Notice how there are never pictures of my mom with us at the beach? It's definitely not her favorite. A week ago Elena drew a picture for my mom and dad. She drew everyone at the beach and drew my mom on the other side of the page at the store alone. I should have taken a picture of it before I mailed it to them. It was hilarious!

Could he be any cuter?!

This is Elena's first-day-of-school photo for this year. We are so lucky to live here and have such great friends. Elena is once again in a class with a few really fun kids, and the moms take turns teaching each week. I love getting to teach, and everyone else does an awesome job. We do our own curriculum and it's perfect. Thanks Melissa, Aimee, and Marianne.
I also want to say thanks to Emily and Wendy for doing Dance and Music on Fridays!

Elena's first day at dance:

I have an obsession...

I love watching my kids sleep. So much so that I take pictures (often) and post them on my blog (occasionally). I just love checking on them multiple times before I go to bed each night. It's part of my bed-time routine.
The checking on them part may be normal, but the taking pictures part...not so much.
Here are a couple of my favorites from the past:

Elena in April 2008 (15 months old)

Kevin in March 2010 (9 months old)The next two are Elena and Kevin September 2010:

I have to explain the jumble of Elena's "friends" that you see. Elena is holding her triplets:
Baby Liam : yes, he's a boy, but pink is his favorite color
Teddy Pig: her favorite of all, he was also in the picture from April 2008
Sally: also known as "Paci Baby" (short for pacifier)
Behind her you can some random things including her sleeping hat. One day she decided that her Santa hat could be a sleeping hat because "sometimes in books, people wear hats to bed" (i.e. The Night Before Christmas). I've even caught her asleep with it on her head before. I wonder what she was so deep in thought about before she fell asleep? :)

Kevin is asleep with his favorite friend Teddy Dog and a musical seahorse which he loves to roll over in the middle of night. He sleeps right through the noise, but it occasionally wakes me up when I hear it on the monitor. He's such a sweet boy! I want to crawl into the crib and cuddle up to him sometimes!

This all reminds me a little of the book, Love You Forever. The mom loves peeking at her sleeping son and singing to him. I love this book and I get emotional each and every time I read it.
But you have to admit, when you stop to think about it and don't "suspend disbelief", the book starts to get a little creepy as the son gets older. I don't think I'm to this point yet, but you'll have to check back in few years when the kids are away at college.
Yep, she got a ladder, drove across town, and crawled in his window.